Ballymahon

21 Feb 2015

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Death of Fr. Padraig

Death of Fr. Padraig

At time of going to Press, we regretfully report the sudden death of our Parish Priest, Fr. Padraig McGowan which occurred at the Presbytery on Friday evening last, 13th February. His sad and unexpected death has left the people of the parish in shock. His Funeral Mass will take place on Ash Wednesday in St. Matthews church at 2p.m. May he rest in peace.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

A new committee has been formed and a number of meetings have now been held to organize the Ballymahon St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2015. In order for the parade to be a success it is vital that it is supported by local businesses, community groups, schools and the people of the town. The Theme of this year’s Parade is the World Wide Web. This theme was chosen to coincide with the launch, on St. Patrick’s Day of Ballymahon’s Development Committee new web site; Ballymahontown.com The Parade will start at 4p.m. and as usual will start down at the Creevaghbeg road. There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for Best Float and bearing in the mind the Theme is very broad, floats should be as colourful as possible. A table quiz has been organised to raise much-needed funds and this will be held in Cooneys Hotel at 8p.m. on Friday 20th February. A table of 4 is €40. You are asked to please support the committee and enter a team. Everyone welcome. So come on everybody, let’s get 2015 off to a good start with a great parade on St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Remember it’s your town. So if you are in a position to support the parade, please do. You can do so by entering a Float, supporting the Table Quiz or simply volunteering to help out on the day.

Club ’91

Continues each Wednesday night in the Bridgeways Centre from 8 to 10p.m. Why not go along, new members always welcome. Last week sympathy was expressed to Club member, Lily Egan and family and also to Eileen McLoughlin and her family on the death of their sister Molly which occurred in Athlone last week. R.I.P. The Club members send get-well wishes to Donal Reilly, husband of their Chairperson, Mai.

Job Vacancies

Carrickedmond/Legan C.E. have the following vacancies: a number of environmental positions due to start between now and April 15th. Job Reference 887925. To check eligibility and to apply please call into the Intreo Offices, D.S.P. Buildings, Ballinalee road, Longford. S.D.P. eligibility/conditions apply.

School enrolment

Forgney National School Enrolment for 2015/2016 will take place at the school between March 2nd and March 13th. Please call to the school or phone 09064 52659.

Death of Teresa Finnegan

We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to J.P., Liam and Michael Finnegan, on the death last week of their mother, Teresa, pre-deceased by her husband Johnny, Cormaglava, Newtowncashel at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, also to all their families, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace.

Medjugorje

A Pilgrimage to Medjugorje will take place from Knock on Sept 16th 2015 at a cost of €699 per person sharing. Contact group leader Marita Concannon on 098-64017 or 089-4146331.

Lent 2015

Are you wondering what you could do for Lent! Would you consider joining the local Prayer Group on Thursday nights 8-9p.m. held at the Sisters of Mercy residence. The group pray Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, read the Scripture Readings for the following Sunday. They also remember the Holy Souls and all the sick people recommended to their prayer. You are invited to come and see if this type of prayer suits you.

Innyside Singers

Have their weekly sessions in Skelly’s on Thursday nights from 8.00p.m. to 9.30p.m. If you would like to join the group, who sing together for fun, why not go along. They are presently preparing for a Concert which is to be held in May 2015 for our visitors from Landevant/Laundaul in France, so everyone’s attendance each week is very important. Everyone welcome, male and female.

C.D. Release Dance

We wish the best of luck to Mr. & Mrs Danny and Mary Sheerin, Maghera, who will be having their CD Release Dance at The Well in Moate on Tuesday, 24th February. Doors are open at 7.30p.m. and the show starts at 8.30p.m. Also performing on the night will be the very popular Johnny Brady, Lisa McHugh, John Hogan, Matt Leavy, Joe Rabbitte, Camillus Egerton, The Sheerin Family and also a very special Guest. Sounds like a very entertaining night out. Admission is only €10. Congratulations to Danny and Mary, well done to both of you.

Sympathy

Our deepest sympathy is extended to Joe Rooney, Edgeworthstown and to his sons John and Stephen, daughter Mary, daughter-in-law Fidelma, and to all their relatives and friends on the death of Joe’s wife Mary (nee Regan), formerly Loughrea, Co Galway after a long illness bravely borne. Mary who is a sister-in-law of Martin Rooney, formerly of Mostrim Road, Ballymahon passed away peacefully at Blackrock Clinic in Dublin on Thursday, 5th February. May she rest in peace.

Gurteen & area Environment group

The annual Springtime road verge clean up for Ledwithstown, Ardohill, Gurteen, Barnacor and Shrule including Ethra and Derry will take place on Saturday, 28th February and Sunday, 1st March. This will start each day at 10.30a.m. meeting at Gurteen working until 1p.m. Approx. This has been a great success running for the past two years and all volunteer support is greatly appreciated. Please wear a high-visibility vest or coat if you can and a pair of good working gloves. Drivers, please drive with extra care when in the area. For more information please call Paul on 087-6390809.

Sympathy

We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Mrs Eileen McLoughlin, Creevaghmore and Mrs Lily Egan, Leo Casey Tce.,. on the death last week of their sister, Molly Dowling (nee Cox), Iona Park, Athlone and formerly from Ballymahon. Molly is pre-deceased by her husband, Billy and son William. Our sympathy is also extended to her family Martha, Patrick, Michael, Celine, Philomena, Edward, Gerald, Ester, Brendan, Georgina, and Elizabeth, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends. Molly’s remains were laid to rest in Coosan Cemetery on Friday morning last. May God grant rest to her Soul.

Lanesboro Fair Day

The annual Fair Day is being held again in Lanesboro this year, on the later than usual date of Saturday 25th April. It is hoped that with the prospect of the weather being better at that time of year that the Fair day will be a big success. It should make it more suitable for people to travel back to relive the memories of bygone days in Lanesboro.

Social Dancing

Continues every Saturday night from 9pm to 11pm in Cooney’s Hotel. Everyone is welcome to attend. Admission is just €5.

Defibrillators

Ballymahon Defibrillator Group are hoping to buy an AED/Defibrillator which will be placed at Innyside Service Station and this will cover both the Ballymahon and Tang area. This would cost €1500. To help raise these funds the group are holding a Charity Hack commencing at Deerpark Equestrian on March 28th next. It will cost €10 for each horse and pony that attends on the day. They are getting a great response and interest from people so they have added a Walking section on the day. A huge raffle will also be held on the same night in Murrays pub in Maghera, raffle tickets will cost €5 each. As they only have a permit to sell tickets on the day as part of the Walker’s fee, they will be asked to buy tickets. Please come out for the Walk and show your support. They are also looking for people from Ballymahon, Tang and Forgney to help sell tickets as they need to get all areas covered. The Defibrillator Group are only the Caretakers of the defibrillators, remember they were bought with your money so they need to keep them operating on the PADS system ( Public Access Defibrillator). Money raised will help them buy the new Defib for the Innyside Service Station, help replace batteries and pads when the need arises, update some of the training equipment so that they can continue to provide training to the people of our communities. Some great prizes have already been donated for the Draw, so make sure you get your ticket which will be on sale soon in the Tang, Forgney and Ballymahon areas. Among the many great prizes are: a mid-week overnight VIP experience for 2 at The Wineport Lodge, Vouchers for various hotels in Westport, Bags of turf or timber, a Cosmetic Hamper and many other vouchers with lots more prizes on the night. Many thanks again for your continued support.

School Re-Union

Plans are underway to have a re-union of Ballymahon Convent Secondary School Class of 1970 to 1975. Dolores Power is one of the main organisers for this 40 year re-union which will be held in Cooneys Hotel, so if you are one of the sixty or so pupils from those years please pencil in a provisional date for Saturday, June 20th. If you wish to attend please e-mail ballymahonclass1975@gmail.com or info@cooneyshotel.com

Eucharistic Adoration

On Ash Wednesday 1995 we began Eucharistic Adoration in St. Matthews Church. This means that on Ash Wednesday 2015 we will be twenty years involved in this Apostolate. Presently the organisers are trying to recruit new members to spend one hour/half hour on Tuesdays before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. Lent is a good time to start. Think about it.

Table Quiz

Ballymahon/Forgney Community Games are holding a fund-raising Table Quiz in Kiernan’s pub, Main Street on Thursday, 26th February at 8.30p.m. Tables of 4. Please support.

Bereavement Course

A Bereavement Course is being held, starting Wednesday 18th at 8p.m. in the Family Centre in Longford. The Course is for adults who have experienced the death of a relative or close friend. It will be presented by two trained, caring and experienced facilitators. For further details and to book a place please ring 04333 46827 today or 087-2843034.

Masses

Weekday Masses in St. Matthews Church during Lent will commence at 9.30a.m. to facilitate parents dropping off children to school.

“Too close to home”

Newtowncashel Drama Group will be performing the comedy “Too close to home” on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th March in The Hill, Newtowncashel. To book your ticket please call 086-2521536. A ticket only policy is being operated to avoid overcrowding or cramped seating. Tickets are €10. €5 for primary school children.

Best Maintained Premises

Congratulations to Kevin and Geraldine Duncan of K Duncan Butchers, Main Street who won first prize in the 2014 Best Maintained Premises Competition which was co-ordinated by Ballymahon Tidy Towns in conjunction with Ballymahon Traders Association. Well done to Kevin, Geraldine and their family.

Easy victory

Congratulations to Ballymahon Vocational School senior football team who had a fabulous win against Ratoath College, beating them by sixteen points in the Final of the North Leinster Senior “D” Football final recently. Well done to all the lads, their captain Enda Farrell and their mentors Mr. Casey and Mr Galvin.

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